RAYA Hazelwood — Restaurant in Gauteng

Copy pasted email to restaurant management (1/3): I am writing to you today because I believe that my drink was spiked when I visited your establishment on the 24 December 2023, otherwise known as Christmas Eve. I preface this email by saying that I do not have any physical evidence. My focus was not to go get blood tests or go to the police, but rather to get home to safety. This is a narration of my experience, exactly as I remember it. On the morning of 24 December 2023, I decided that I would take myself out on a solo lunch date. I had visited your restaurant twice before - once on my own and, the second time, with a friend. Both occasions were enjoyable experiences. I arrived to your restaurant at 13:50. I asked the waiter who greeted me for a table for one and chose one of the high tables outside. The waiter's name escapes me now but I would recognise him if I saw him again. I ordered a Gin & Tonic and made myself comfortable - unpacking my laptop so I could do some work. My drink arrived and I ordered some sushi to go along with it. I took a sip or two of the drink and noted that it was quite tart and sweet. I stirred it up with a straw, as one would, and decided to let it sit until my food arrived. Between eating and typing away at my laptop, I took a couple more sips of the drink. I remember starting to feel full after only two or three pieces of sushi which I thought was strange. What was even more strange, however, was feeling suddenly intoxicated - more so than I should have after only a few sips. I eyed the drink wondering what was wrong and took no further sips. The sudden feeling of intoxication was shortly followed by an equally sudden feeling of immense tiredness. Not only was I tired, I was drowsy and this was to the extent of desperately wanting to lie down. I remember thinking to myself that I should not feel so tired because I had had a good night's rest and had not exerted myself at all that day. I would have let all these weird and sudden feelings go had it not been that they were followed by a hot flash and the beginnings of a black out. My eyesight started to blur and a ringing in my ears blocled out the music playing. At this point, I was confused, paranoid,...

Wow wow wow wow

Step into a world of culinary enchantment at Raya Hazelwood! 🌟🍽️ Nestled in the heart of Pretoria, South Africa, this restaurant is a gastronomic oasis where dreams come true. 🏞️🌌

Prepare your taste buds for a symphony of flavors as you savor their amazing array of foods. Each dish is a masterpiece, meticulously crafted to perfection, leaving you in awe of the culinary prowess that resides within Raya's kitchen. 🎨🍲

But it's the dumplings that steal the show, a delicacy that will transport you to cloud nine with every heavenly bite. Each dumpling is a small bundle of joy, bursting with succulent fillings and enveloped in a delicate embrace of dough. One taste, and you'll be enchanted forever. 🥟😍

As you indulge in the exquisite cuisine, Nomore the waiter and the gracious owner will attend to your every need with an air of elegance and charm. Their service is a symphony of hospitality, leaving you feeling like royalty amidst the culinary splendor. 👑🎶

Oh, the freshness of their ingredients! Each dish is a celebration of nature's bounty, carefully selected to create an unforgettable sensory experience. With every morsel, you'll feel a deep connection to the essence of the earth and the passion of the chefs who curated this culinary wonderland. 🌿🌍

Do not deny yourself this epicurean adventure. Heed my call and embark on a gastronomic journey like no other. Gather your loved ones, summon your inner food connoisseur, and make your way to Raya Hazelwood. For within its walls lies an experience that will forever linger in your heart and tantalize your senses. 🏰💖🍴

Dare to embrace the magic of Raya Hazelwood! ✨🍽️🌌 The world of culinary enchantment...

Raya is definitely excellent. We came Saturday late morning/ Early afternoon (11:30). It was quiet when we were seated.

Food is definitely a little on the expensive side of things, BUT definitely worth it in my opinion.

We order a hamburger (unfortunately cant remember which one now) that was absolutely amazing. I had the Tonkotsu Ramen which is SUPERB.

The Ramen had a super rich, flavourful and awesome broth - noodles were good, and toppings were good (I do think the pork chashu was a little on the small side) but overall it was so flavourful I was blown away.

My friend who had the burger also said he would definitely want to try everything on the menu, just based off of his burger experience.

For dessert I had the panna cotta, which was rich and tasty, and my friend had the baklava, which although not traditional, has an epically awesome twist to it.

The waiter was friendly, food was a teeny bit on the slow side, but everything did look and taste like it was made to order - so definitely worth the wait. Didn’t get a visit from the manager, which I feel every manager should definitely try to get to every table at least once - but no worries on that, its my personal opinion.

I only give a 4 star for food because I can’t give a 4.5 star - a few small issues that would make it a full 5 star experience.

I will definitely be coming back for more ramen - you can be absolutely certain of that!

Well done to the Raya Team - Will...